While the general populace is familiar with the basic concept of golf, allow us to impart some intriguing tidbits that you likely haven’t come across.
- The Longest Drive on Record Stretched for 515 Yards
Michael Hoke Austin, a renowned English-American professional golfer and physiology expert, achieved the longest drive in golf history and receives credit for it. During the 1974 U.S. National Seniors Tournament, Austin astoundingly propelled the ball an extraordinary distance of 515 yards. Chandler Harper, PGA champion and Austin’s playing partner, remarked, “This seems implausible, but there’s a marvel here.”
- The Inaugural 18-Hole Course Emerged on a Sheep Farm
The first 18-hole golf course in America took shape on a sheep farm in Downers Grove, Illinois, back in 1892. Entrepreneur and avid golfer Charles Anthony Blair McDonald relocated to this picturesque town and collaborated with colleagues to construct the course. The Downers Grove course persists to this day, although it has undergone downsizing to nine holes.
- Golf Balls Initially Crafted from Wood
These wooden balls surfaced during the 14th century and persisted in use until the 17th century. Naturally, a typical wooden ball had a limited lifespan, only enduring for several games before necessitating replacement.
- Feathery Golf Balls Were an Alternative
Another type of golf ball, known as a “feathery,” emerged around the era of the wooden ball. Essentially, a feathery is a leather pouch filled with chicken or goose feathers (hence the name). Due to the labor-intensive process and materials involved, a single feathery ball would often cost the contemporary equivalent of $10-USD 20.
- Golf Was Played on The Moon
Golf stands as one of the only two sports ever played on the moon. On June 6, 1967, Alan Bartlett “Al” Shepard, Jr. executed a one-handed swing with a six-iron, sending the ball soaring through the moon’s low-gravity environment. And in case you were wondering, astronauts played javelin on the moon.
